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About David Morris

David Morris is co-founder of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and directs its initiative on The Public Good. He is the author of New City States and four other non-fiction books. His essays on public policy are regularly published by On the Commons, Alternet, Common Dreams and the Huffington Post. More

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Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 4, 2012

Tea Party and NAACP Help Defeat Privatization Bill in Florida

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/tea-party-naacp-defeat-privatization-bill-florida/

Earlier this year, Florida’s Republican Governor and legislature proposed to privatize all 26 state prisons.  SB 2038 would have allowed privatization if a private company’s bid was at least 7 percent less than the state’s current cost. The bill would affect nearly 4,000 state workers.  Projected annual savings exceeded $16.5 million. Despite union opposition, the… Continue reading

obama and lbj
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 1 Comment | Updated on May 3, 2012

Profiles in Political Courage

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/profiles-political-courage/

A few weeks ago Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA who is retiring from the House this year, gave a memorable interview to New York magazine in which he criticized President Obama for aggressively pushing health care reform.  Frank says he warned Obama the Democratic Party would pay “a terrible price.” Apparently Frank was not alone in… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 30, 2012

In Montana the streams belong to the people. So far.

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/montana-streams-belong-people-far/

Montana, home to some of the world’s best fly fishing, is also home to the country’s most far reaching law protecting their stream and river commons. The catalyst was a 1984 ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that any river or stream capable of being used for recreation purposes such as fishing and floating, can… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2012

Michigan Republicans Deny Petition to Restore Democracy Because Font is Too Small

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/michigan-republicans-deny-petition-restore-democracy-font-small/

It’s hard to make this stuff up.  Last year the Michigan legislature passed a bill that gave the Governor the right to seize control of a city and insert a manager that had the authority to fire all workers, abrogate all contracts and privatize all public asset, all without the advice or consent of elected… Continue reading

inthesetimes
ILSR Press Room filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2012

Postal Workers Unions Continue Fight to Stop Massive USPS Cutbacks

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/postal-workers-unions-continue-fight-stop-massive-usps-cutbacks/

In These Times.  April 26, 2012 “Congress created this manufactured crisis…, and Congress must solve this,” declared Sally Davidow, spokeswoman for the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), which has resisted congressional efforts to curtail USPS service and eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs. This week, Congress took a step toward solving the USPS’ problems—but postal… Continue reading

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Article, Resource filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 2 Comments | Updated on Apr 18, 2012

US Post Office Best Deal in the World

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/post-office-deal-world/

The US Post Office needs money.  As this chart shows, US postal rates, at 45 cents for a first class stamp, are the lowest in the world, often by far, excluding a few small island countries.  Yet Congress, the Postal Regulatory Commission, set up by Congress in 2006 to oversee the Post Office, has proven… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 17, 2012

A Devastating Critique of the World Bank’s Love Affair With Water Privatization

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/devastating-critique-world-banks-love-affair-water-privatization/

In the 19th century, small private companies in U.S. and European cities supplied water only to those who could pay a premium. Then came epidemics of cholera and other waterborne illnesses, which vividly illustrated the widespread stakes for public health and human life and invigorated the political will needed to make a shared commitment to… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 16, 2012

Tax Day. Time to Demolish Some Common Myths

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/tax-day-time-demolish-common-myths/

Tax Day 2012 is upon us. And given the centrality of taxes as an election issue, it would be accurate to say that Tax Year 2012 is upon us. To inform the tax debate, the Citizens for Tax Justice, one of the most competent of any groups on this subject, has provided the data rebutting… Continue reading

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Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 16, 2012

Are Republican Governors Truly Representing Their Citizens on Health Care?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/republican-governors-representing-citizens-health-care/

A few days ago 26 states argued before the Supreme Court that the health law’s dramatic extension of Medicaid coverage constitutes unconstitutional federal coercion.  ”Congress easily could have designed an act that encouraged rather than forced states to expand their Medicaid programs,” their brief submitted to the Court argues. “By making a conscious decision to… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 13, 2012

Book Burning Hoax Results in Huge Support for Michigan Public Library

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/book-burning-hoax-results-huge-support-michigan-public-library/

Sometimes it takes a truly imaginative hoax to jolt us into realizing how much we value the public. That’s what happened in Troy, Michigan last summer. Nationwide, over 90 percent of public library money comes from local property tax dollars.  Thus every time a public library needs money it has to go to the voters. … Continue reading